MI Civil Rights Commission to hear migrant worker concerns

By Kevin Lavery, WKAR News

LANSING, MI – LANSING, MI (WKAR) - The Michigan Civil Rights Commission is starting a statewide tour of several rural communities to hear the concerns of migrant and seasonal farm workers.

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The commission wants to get an accurate picture of the living and working conditions seasonal workers face each year in Michigan. They'll look into allegations of discrimination, which largely stem from claims that workers are living in the U.S. illegally. Commission spokesman Harold Core says many are refused services and unnecessarily harassed.

"All with the assumption that they are not citizens, that they are not legitimately here to work," Core says. "And we do know that the majority of them are legitimately here working."

On Thursday, the commission visits Hart, north of Muskegon. Members plan to visit at least four other cities over the next month. The commission will accept written testimony until August 24 before publishing its findings.